Refrigerant guiding pipe and heat exchanger having refrigerant guiding pipe

ABSTRACT

A refrigerant guiding pipe for a heat exchanger having: a pipe wall in which an inner chamber is formed, an opening formed in the pipe wall, and a refrigerant guiding wall portion, at least a part of the refrigerant guiding wall being disposed to be substantially inclined with respect to an axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe to guide refrigerant passing through the opening. The refrigerant guiding wall portion is a recessed wall section depressed towards the inner chamber. The refrigerant guiding pipe can distribute and guide refrigerant well to help avoid non-uniform distribution of refrigerant due to layering of gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant

FIELD

The present invention relates to a refrigerant guiding pipe and a heatexchanger having the refrigerant guiding pipe.

BACKGROUND

The inlet and/or outlet manifold of a typical heat exchanger is providedwith a refrigerant guiding pipe, and the refrigerant guiding pipe isused as a distributor in the inlet manifold and as a collector in theoutlet manifold.

In the prior art, the refrigerant guiding pipe comprises a plurality ofsubstantially circular openings arranged along a length of therefrigerant guiding pipe, and each of the openings has a center linedirected substantially in a radial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe. The refrigerant guiding pipe has an axial direction perpendicularto the center line of each of the openings.

SUMMARY

Therefore, in such a prior art refrigerant guiding pipe, resistance torefrigerant jetted through the openings is large, a great pressure dropis generated and distribution of refrigerant is adversely affected.

It is desirable, for example, to provide a refrigerant guiding pipe anda heat exchanger with the refrigerant guiding pipe which can improveuniformity of refrigerant distribution.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided arefrigerant guiding pipe. The refrigerant guiding pipe comprises a pipewall in which an inner chamber is formed; an opening formed in the pipewall; and a refrigerant guiding wall portion, at least a part of therefrigerant guiding wall portion being disposed to be substantiallyinclined with respect to an axial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe to guide refrigerant passing through the opening. The refrigerantguiding wall portion is a recessed wall section depressed towards theinner chamber.

According to an aspect of the present invention, at least a part of anedge of the refrigerant guiding wall portion is separated from the pipewall, thereby forming the opening.

According to an aspect of the present invention, at least a middleportion of the refrigerant guiding wall portion in a directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe ispositioned at an angle of more than zero degree and less than 90degrees, desirably from about 5 degrees to about 75 degrees, withrespect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe; at leasta portion of the refrigerant guiding wall portion is positioned at anangle of more than zero degree and less than 90 degrees, desirably fromabout 5 degrees to about 75 degrees, with respect to the axial directionof the refrigerant guiding pipe; or the refrigerant guiding wall portionis positioned at an angle of more than zero degree and less than 90degrees, desirably from about 5 degrees to about 75 degrees, withrespect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe.

According to an aspect of the present invention, at least the middleportion of the refrigerant guiding wall portion in the directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe hasa section along the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, andthe section is composed of a plurality of substantially straightline-shaped segments or has substantially a shape of a curve; or therefrigerant guiding wall portion has a section along the axial directionof the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section is composed of aplurality of substantially straight line-shaped segments or hassubstantially a shape of a curve.

In an embodiment, at least a first end of the recessed wall section inthe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe is separated fromthe pipe wall, thereby forming the opening.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least themiddle portion of the recessed wall section in the directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe isinclined with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe, at least a portion of the refrigerant guiding wall is inclinedwith respect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, orthe recessed wall section is inclined with respect to the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the first end of therecessed wall section is closer to an axis of the refrigerant guidingpipe than a second end of the recessed wall portion opposite to thefirst end.

According to an aspect of the present invention, at least the middleportion of the recessed wall portion in the direction perpendicular tothe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe has a section alongthe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section hasa shape of a substantially straight line or is substantially straight;or the recessed wall portion has a section along the axial direction ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section has a shape of asubstantially straight line or is substantially straight.

According to an aspect of the present invention, at least the middleportion of the recessed wall section in the direction perpendicular tothe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe is positioned at anangle of more than zero degree and less than 90 degrees with respect tothe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, or the recessedwall section is positioned at an angle of more than zero degree and lessthan 90 degrees with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerantguiding pipe.

According to an aspect of the present invention, at least the middleportion of the recessed wall section in the direction perpendicular tothe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe has a section alongthe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section iscomposed of a plurality of substantially straight line-shaped segmentsor has substantially a shape of a curve; or the recessed wall sectionhas a section along the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe,and the section is composed of a plurality of substantially straightline-shaped segments or has substantially a shape of a curve.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aheat exchanger with the refrigerant guiding pipe disclosed herein.

With some embodiments of the refrigerant guiding pipe, refrigerant flowsthrough the opening obliquely with respect to the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe, thereby reducing resistance loss and improvinguniformity of refrigerant distribution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a heat exchanger according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a refrigerant guiding pipe according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the refrigerant guiding pipeaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerant guiding pipeaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic sectional view of the refrigerantguiding pipe according an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 a is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerant guiding pipeaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 b is a schematic view of the refrigerant guiding pipe accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 a is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerant guiding pipeaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 b is a schematic view of the refrigerant guiding pipe accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 a is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerant guiding pipeaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 b is a schematic view of the refrigerant guiding pipe accordingto an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are partially enlarged schematic views of a heatexchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is partially enlarged schematic view of a heat exchangeraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A further description of the invention will be made as below withreference to embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention comprises a first manifold 102; asecond manifold 101 spaced away from the first manifold 102 by apredetermined distance; a heat exchange tube 103 such as a flat tubehaving two ends respectively connected with the first manifold 102 andthe second manifold 101 so that a refrigerant channel in the heatexchange tube 103 is in communication with the first manifold 102 andthe second manifold 101; a fin 104; and a refrigerant guiding pipe 10,the first manifold 102, or the second manifold 101, or both the firstmanifold 102 and the second manifold 101 being provided with therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 therein. The heat exchanger may be anyappropriate heat exchanger such as a heat exchanger with one row of coreor a plurality of rows of cores or a heat exchanger with one or aplurality of loops. In addition, the heat exchanger may be amicro-channel heat exchanger. For example, the refrigerant guiding pipemay be applied to an inner chamber part of an inlet manifold of aplurality of loops of the micro-channel heat exchanger and an innerchamber part of a manifold between the plurality of loops to guide anddistribute two-phase refrigerant.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a refrigerant guiding pipe 10 according to anembodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerant guidingpipe 10 comprises: a pipe wall 17 in which an inner chamber 19 isformed; an opening 11 b formed in the pipe wall; and a refrigerantguiding wall portion, at least a part of the refrigerant guiding wall isdisposed to be substantially inclined with respect to an axial directionof the refrigerant guiding pipe to guide refrigerant passing through theopening 11 b. At least a part of an edge of the refrigerant guiding wallportion is separated from the pipe wall 17, thereby forming the opening.The refrigerant guiding wall portion is disposed so that a direction ofrefrigerant flow flowing through the opening 11 b is substantiallyinclined with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe 10. For example, at least a part of the refrigerant guiding wallportion is positioned at an angle of more than zero degree and less than90 degrees, desirably from about 5 degrees to about 75 degrees, withrespect to the the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe. Forexample, the refrigerant guiding wall portion is disposed such thatrefrigerant flow flowing through the opening 11 b is inclined withrespect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe by anangle of more than zero degree and less than 90 degrees, desirably fromabout 5 degrees to about 75 degrees. Referring to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 has an open end 31 and another end 33 whichmay be closed or open.

The refrigerant guiding pipe 10 further comprises a recessed wallsection 23 depressed towards the inner chamber 19. In an embodiment, atleast a first end 231 of the recessed wall section 23 in the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe is separated from the pipewall 17, thereby forming the opening 11 b. The recessed wall section 23constitutes an example of the refrigerant guiding wall portion.

At least a middle portion 23 a of the recessed wall section 23 in thedirection perpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerantguiding pipe, or the recessed wall section 23 is inclined with respectto the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10, or at least aportion of the recessed wall section 23 is inclined with respect to theaxial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10, and the first end231 of the recessed wall section 23 is closer to an axis 15 of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 than a second end 232 of the the recessedwall section 23 opposite to the first end 231. The middle portion 23 aextends from the first end 231 to the second end 232 in the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a method of forming the opening 11 b isto cut a notch with a certain depth in a pipe wall of a circular pipefor forming the refrigerant guiding pipe in a cutting directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the circular pipe, and then topress the pipe wall of the circular pipe on one side of the notch in theaxial direction to depress the pipe wall. The opening 11 b and therecessed wall section 23 are thereby formed. An orientation of the notchis determined by two directions, one of which is a depth direction ofthe notch (i.e., a direction of the notch in depth) directed in a radialdirection of the circular pipe (upward and downward directions in FIG.3), and the other of which is the cutting direction perpendicular to thedepth direction of the notch and the axial direction of the circularpipe. Alternatively, the depth direction of the notch may be positionedat an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the radial directionof the circular pipe, and the cutting direction of the notch may bepositioned at an angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to the axialdirection of the circular pipe. The notch may be any notch in anyappropriate orientation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a circumferential length of the notch,i.e., a length of a circular arc of a separated segment 12 at which thefirst end 231 is separated from the pipe wall, is L, and a distance orpitch between the adjacent openings is d1.

In an embodiment, at least the middle portion 23 a of the recessed wallsection 23 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 has a section along the axial direction ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe, the section has a shape of a substantiallystraight line or is substantially straight, and at least the middleportion 23 a of the recessed wall section 23 in the directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe isinclined at an angle γ with respect to the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10. Alternatively, the recessed wall section 23has a section along the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe,the section has a shape of a substantially straight line or issubstantially straight, and the recessed wall section 23 is inclined atan angle γ with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerantguiding pipe 10. At least the middle portion 23 a of the recessed wallsection 23 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe is positioned at an angle γ of more than zerodegree and less than 90 degrees, desirably from about 5 degrees to about75 degrees, with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerantguiding pipe 10; or the recessed wall section 23 is positioned at anangle γ of more than zero degree and less than 90 degrees, desirablyfrom about 5 degrees to about 75 degrees, with respect to the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10.

The refrigerant guiding pipe 10 with the above configuration may alsoserve as a collector in the outlet manifold 101.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, whether the refrigerant guidingpipe 10 serves as a distributor in the inlet manifold 102 or as acollector in the outlet manifold 101, the end 31 of the refrigerantguiding pipe 10 may be connected to refrigerant piping but the other end33 may not be connected to the refrigerant piping, or the other end 33of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 may be connected to refrigerantpiping but the end 31 may not be connected to the refrigerant piping.

A row of the openings 11 b or a plurality of rows of the openings 11 bsuch as two or three rows of the openings 11 b are disposed along theaxial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10.

Another method of forming the opening 11 b is to form the opening 11 band the recessed wall section 23 by pressing.

In the above examples, the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 is formed with apipe having a circular cross-section. The refrigerant guiding pipe 10may also be formed of a pipe having any other cross section such as anelliptical or rectangular cross section. In addition, the refrigerantguiding pipe 10 may be formed of a pipe having a varying radius. Therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 may be formed of any appropriate pipe knownin the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 9 a and 9 b, when the above refrigerant guidingpipe 10 is used in the manifold 102 of the heat exchanger 100,refrigerant flows along the inner chamber of the refrigerant guidingpipe, and the recessed wall section 23 mainly functions to guide therefrigerant. The refrigerant is ejected to an inner cavity of themanifold along a surface of the recessed wall section 23 so thatresistance loss is low. A part of the refrigerant can be ejecteddirectly into inner chambers of flat tubes 103 and the remainingrefrigerant rushes to an end of the manifold 102 and then flowsreversely so that refrigerant is uniformly distributed to the remainingflat tubes 103. Refrigerant is mixed in the manifold 102 so that gaseousrefrigerant and liquid refrigerant are uniformly mixed and do not layer.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show schematic views of a refrigerant guiding pipe 10according to an embodiment. The refrigerant guiding pipe 10 according tothis embodiment may be the same as the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3 except as described hereafter.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 and referring to FIG. 2, in therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 of this embodiment, at least the middleportion 23 a of the recessed wall section 23 in the directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10has a section along the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe10, and the section is composed of a plurality of substantially straightline-shaped segments or a plurality of substantially straight segments;or the recessed wall section 23 has a section along the axial directionof the refrigerant guiding pipe 10, and the section is composed of aplurality of substantially straight line-shaped segments or a pluralityof substantially straight segments. The middle portion 23 a extends fromthe first end 231 to the second end 232 in the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10. Alternatively, at least the middle portion23 a of the recessed wall section 23 in the direction perpendicular tothe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 has a sectionalong the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10, and thesection is composed of an arc-like segment; or the recessed wall section23 has a section along the axial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe 10, and the section is composed of an arc-like segment.

Alternatively, at least the middle portion 23 a of the recessed wallsection 23 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 has a section along the axial direction ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe 10, and the section has substantially ashape of a curve or arc, or is substantially curved; or the recessedwall section 23 has a section along the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10, and the section has substantially a shapeof a curve or arc, or is substantially curved. The middle portion 23 aextends from the first end 231 to the second end 232 in the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10.

It may facilitate decrease of resistance to refrigerant flowing throughthe opening by configured the recessed wall section 23 in a shape of anarc or an arc-like shape.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show a refrigerant guiding pipe 10 according to anembodiment. The structure of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 accordingto this embodiment may be substantially the same as that of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 according to any one of the embodiments ofFIGS. 2-5 except as described below. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 a and 6b, the recessed wall section 23 is substantially triangular in shape,and the triangular recessed wall section 23 has a base connected withthe pipe wall 17, and the other edges of the triangular recessed wallsection 23 are separated from the pipe wall 17. In the embodiment, theentire recessed wall section 23 may be located substantially in oneplane. In other words, the entire recessed wall section 23 may have ashape of a substantially flat plate.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b show a refrigerant guiding pipe 10 according to anembodiment. The structure of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 accordingto this embodiment may be substantially the same as that of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 according to any of the embodiments of FIGS.2-6 except as described below. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 a and 7 b, therecessed wall section 23 is substantially arcuate in shape, and thearcuate recessed wall section 23 has a straight edge connected with thepipe wall 17, and the other edges of the recessed wall section 23 areseparated from the pipe wall 17. In the embodiment, the entire recessedwall section 23 may be located substantially in one plane. In otherwords, the entire recessed wall section 23 may have a shape of asubstantially flat plate.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show a refrigerant guiding pipe 10 according to anembodiment. The structure of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 accordingto this embodiment may be substantially the same as that of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 according to any of the embodiments of FIGS.2-6 except as described below. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b, therecessed wall section 23 has substantially a shape of an arch, exceptthe first end 231 is separated from the pipe wall 17 and the other edgesof the recessed wall section 23 are connected with the pipe wall 17.

It can be appreciated from the above embodiments of the recessed wallsection 23:

At least the middle portion 23 a of the refrigerant guiding wallportion, such as the recessed wall section 23, in the directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10has a section along the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe,the section has a shape of a substantially straight line or issubstantially straight, and the middle portion 23 a is inclined at anangle γ with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe 10. Alternatively, the refrigerant guiding wall portion such as therecessed wall section 23 has a section along the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe, the section has a shape of a substantiallystraight line or is substantially straight, and the refrigerant guidingwall portion such as the recessed wall section 23 is inclined at anangle γ with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe 10. The angle γ is about more than 0 degree and less than 90degrees, desirably in the range from about 5 degrees to about 75degrees.

Alternatively, at least the middle portion 23 a of the refrigerantguiding wall portion in the direction perpendicular to the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 has a section along theaxial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10, and the section iscomposed of a plurality of substantially straight line-shaped segmentsor a plurality of substantially straight segments, or the section hassubstantially a shape of a curve or arc or is substantially curved; orthe refrigerant guiding wall portion has a section along the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10, and the section iscomposed of a plurality of substantially straight line-shaped segmentsor a plurality of substantially straight segments, or the section hassubstantially a shape of a curve or arc or is substantially curved. Themiddle portion 23 a extends from the first end 231 to the second end 232in the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10.

In an embodiment, at least the middle portion 23 a of the refrigerantguiding wall portion in the direction perpendicular to the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 has a section along theaxial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10, and the sectioncomprises at least one of both at least one substantially straightline-shaped segment and at least one substantially curve-shaped segment;or the refrigerant guiding wall portion has a section along the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section comprises atleast one of both at least one substantially straight line-shapedsegment and at least one substantially curve-shaped segment.

In the above embodiments, at least the first end 231 is separated fromthe pipe wall 17. Alternatively, at least a part of the edge of therecessed wall section 23 is separated from the pipe wall 17.

A heat exchanger 100 according to an embodiment of the present inventionwill be described below in detail. FIGS. 9 a, 9 b and 10 are partiallyenlarged schematic views of a heat exchanger 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, in a region along an axial direction ofthe manifold 102 where the heat exchange tubes 103 such as flat tubesare disposed, the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 may be provided with theopenings 11 b.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, alternatively, for example, whenthe refrigerant guiding pipe 10 serves as a distributor in the inletmanifold 102, the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 is not provided with theopening 11 b in a non-opening range from an inlet-side end 31 of therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 to a position spaced away from the end 31 ina direction extending from the inlet-side end 31 to another end 33 ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe 10. A number of the heat exchange tubes 103such as flat tubes in the non-opening range is N, a number of the heatexchange tubes 103 over a range corresponding to all of the heatexchange tubes 103 is T, and a ratio of the number N to the number T ismore than 20% and less than 99%. A good refrigerant distribution effectcan be obtained with the ratio. Experimental results show that that whenthe ratio is more than 95% and less than 99%, a very notable effect ofuniform distribution of refrigerant can be obtained. The refrigerantguiding pipe 10 with the above configuration may also serve as acollector in the outlet manifold 101 to achieve an effect of uniformlydistributing refrigerant.

Whether the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 serves as a distributor in theinlet manifold 102 or as a collector in the outlet manifold 101, the end31 of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 will be connected to refrigerantpiping but the other end 33 will not be connected to the refrigerantpiping. Therefore, the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 may be designed insuch a way that the number of the heat exchange tubes 103 such as flattubes is N in the non-opening range from the end 31 of the refrigerantguiding pipe 10 to be connected with a refrigerant piping to a positionspaced away from the end 31 by a predetermined distance, that the numberof the heat exchange tubes 103 over a range of the refrigerant guidingpipe 10 corresponding to all of the heat exchange tubes 103 is T, and aratio of the number N to the number T is more than about 20% and lessthan about 99%, desirably more than about 95% and less than about 99%.

As illustrated in FIG. 9 a, the other end 33 of the refrigerant guidingpipe 10 may be sealed by means of an element 35. Alternatively, asillustrated in FIG. 9 b, the element 35 may not be provided, and theother end 33 of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 is open, therebyobtaining a very notable effect of uniformly distributing refrigerant.The refrigerant guiding pipe 10 with the above configuration may alsoserve as a collector in the outlet manifold 101 to achieve an effect ofuniformly distributing refrigerant.

Two-phase refrigerant in the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 is ejected fromthe openings 11 b, and a part of the two-phase refrigerant entersdirectly into inner chambers of the heat exchange tubes 103 such as flattubes so as to avoid excess amount of liquid refrigerant from enteringinto the heat exchange tubes 103 such as flat tubes. The remainingrefrigerant rushes to an end of the manifold 102 and then flowsreversely to be distributed to the heat exchange tubes 103 such as flattubes uniformly.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 and the heatexchange tubes 103 are opposite to each other, or a center line 15 ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe 10 intersects elongation lines of axes 105of the heat exchange tubes 103 such as flat tubes. Of course, therefrigerant guiding pipe 10 and the heat exchange tubes 103 may bepositioned in any appropriate relative positions. A center line 14 (forexample, an axis 13 of the channel) of the opening 11 b substantiallyperpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10is positioned at an angle φ from 0 to 90 degrees with respect to alongitudinal direction of the heat exchange tube 103 (or an axis 105 ofthe heat exchange tube 103), thereby obtaining a good refrigerantdistribution effect. The center line 14 may intersect an axis 15 (anaxial center line) of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 and may beperpendicular to the axis 15 of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10, whilethe center line 14 passes through a midpoint of the opening 11 b in atransverse direction. The transverse direction is perpendicular to theaxis 15 of the refrigerant guiding pipe 10 and the center line 14 of theopening. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the transverse direction is adirection in which the axis 105 extends.

In the above embodiments, refrigerant flows along the inner chamber ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe, and the refrigerant guiding wall portionmainly functions to guide the refrigerant. The refrigerant is ejected toan inner cavity of the manifold along the refrigerant guiding wallportion so that resistance loss is low. A part of refrigerant can beejected directly into inner chambers of the heat exchange tubes and theremaining refrigerant rushes to an end of the manifold and then flowsreversely to be uniformly distributed to the remaining heat exchangetubes. Refrigerant is mixed in the manifold so that gaseous refrigerantand liquid refrigerant are uniformly mixed and do not layer.

The structures described in the above embodiments may be appropriatelycombined to form new embodiments. Features in one embodiment may also beapplicable to the other embodiments or substitute for those of the otherembodiments.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been describedwith reference to the drawings, the embodiments shown in the drawingsare intended to illustrate desirable embodiments of the presentinvention and shall not be construed to limit the present invention.

For example, the opening and the refrigerant guiding wall portion suchas the recessed wall section have symmetrical structures in the aboveembodiments. Alternatively, the opening and the refrigerant guiding wallportion such as the recessed wall section may have asymmetricalstructures. For example, when the refrigerant guiding pipe is made of acircular pipe, the opening and the refrigerant guiding wall portion suchas the recessed wall section may be symmetrical or asymmetrical withrespect to a plane passing through a center axis of the refrigerantguiding pipe.

In addition, in the above embodiments, the example of the refrigerantguiding wall portion is the recessed wall section. However, therefrigerant guiding wall portion is not limited to the recessed wallsection. Refrigerant passing through the opening may be guided in otherappropriate ways. For example, a separate refrigerant guiding wallportion such as a guide pipe and a guide element may be soldered to therefrigerant guiding pipe in the vicinity of the opening, or to an insideor outside of the refrigerant guiding pipe to guide refrigerant passingthrough the opening. In addition, the opening may have any appropriateshape and the refrigerant guiding wall portion may have any appropriateshape and structure.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, at least the first end of therefrigerant guiding wall portion on one side in the axial direction ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe is separated from the pipe wall, therebyforming the opening. However, the present invention is not limited tothis. Alternatively, the refrigerant guiding wall portion may beseparated from the pipe wall only on one side or both sides of therefrigerant guiding wall portion in a circumferential direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe, thereby forming the opening; or therefrigerant guiding wall portion may be separated from the pipe wall atany other appropriate portion of the edge of the refrigerant guidingwall portion, thereby forming the opening:

Moreover, in the above embodiments, the refrigerant guiding wall portionmay have a shape of a flat plate or a curved surface, or may compriseboth a part having a shape of a flat plate and a part having a shape ofa curved surface. The section of the refrigerant guiding wall portionalong the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe has a shape ofa substantially straight line or is substantially straight, or thesection is composed of a plurality of substantially straight line-shapedsegments or has substantially a shape of a curve. Alternatively, thesection of the refrigerant guiding wall portion along the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe may comprise at least onesubstantially straight line-shaped segment, or at least onesubstantially curve-shaped segment, or may comprise at least onesubstantially straight line-shaped segment and at least onesubstantially curve-shaped segment.

1. A refrigerant guiding pipe for a heat exchanger, comprising: a pipewall in which an inner chamber is formed; an opening formed in the pipewall; and a refrigerant guiding wall portion, at least a part of therefrigerant guiding wall being disposed to be substantially inclinedwith respect to an axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe toguide refrigerant passing through the opening, wherein the refrigerantguiding wall portion is a recessed wall section depressed towards theinner chamber.
 2. The refrigerant guiding pipe of claim 1, wherein atleast a part of an edge of the refrigerant guiding wall portion isseparated from the pipe wall to form the opening.
 3. The refrigerantguiding pipe of claim 1, wherein at least a middle portion of therefrigerant guiding wall portion in a direction perpendicular to theaxial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe is inclined with respectto the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, at least aportion of the refrigerant guiding wall portion is inclined with respectto the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, or therefrigerant guiding wall portion is inclined with respect to the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe.
 4. The refrigerant guidingpipe of claim 1, wherein at least the middle portion of the refrigerantguiding wall portion in the direction perpendicular to the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe has a section along the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section has a shapeof a substantially straight line, or is substantially straight; or therefrigerant guiding wall portion has a section along the axial directionof the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section has a shape of asubstantially straight line, or is substantially straight.
 5. Therefrigerant guiding pipe of claim 1, wherein at least the middle portionof the refrigerant guiding wall portion in the direction perpendicularto the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe is positioned atan angle of more than zero degree and less than 90 degrees with respectto the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, or therefrigerant guiding wall portion is positioned at an angle of more thanzero degree and less than 90 degrees with respect to the axial directionof the refrigerant guiding pipe.
 6. The refrigerant guiding pipe ofclaim 1, wherein at least the middle portion of the refrigerant guidingwall portion in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe has a section along the axial direction ofthe refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section comprises at least onesubstantially straight line-shaped segment and/or at least onesubstantially curve-shaped segment, or a section of the refrigerantguiding wall portion along the axial direction of the refrigerantguiding pipe comprises at least one substantially straight line-shapedsegment and/or at least one substantially curve-shaped segment.
 7. Therefrigerant guiding pipe of claim 1, wherein at least an end of therefrigerant guiding wall portion in the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe is separated from the pipe wall to form theopening.
 8. The refrigerant guiding pipe of claim 1, further comprising:a first end of the refrigerant guiding pipe to be connected withrefrigerant piping, and a second end of the refrigerant guiding pipeopposite to the first end, wherein the second end of the refrigerantguiding pipe is open in use.
 9. A heat exchanger, comprising: a firstmanifold; a second manifold spaced away from the first manifold by acertain distance; a heat exchange tube having two ends respectivelyconnected with the first manifold and the second manifold; and arefrigerant guiding pipe, comprising: a pipe wall in which an innerchamber is formed, an opening formed in the pipe wall, and a refrigerantguiding wall portion, at least a part of the refrigerant guiding wallbeing disposed to be substantially inclined with respect to an axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe to guide refrigerant passingthrough the opening and the refrigerant guiding wall portion comprisinga recessed wall section depressed towards the inner chamber, wherein thefirst manifold and/or the second manifold has the refrigerant guidingpipe therein.
 10. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein the refrigerantguiding pipe further comprises: a first end of the refrigerant guidingpipe to be connected with refrigerant piping, and a second end of therefrigerant guiding pipe opposite to the first end, and a non-openingrange from the first end of the refrigerant guiding pipe to a positionspaced away from the first end by a certain distance, wherein a ratio ofa number of the heat exchange tubes in the non-opening range to a numberof all the the-heat exchange tubes corresponding to the refrigerantguiding pipe is more than about 20% and less than about 99%.
 11. Theheat exchanger of claim 10, wherein at least a part of an edge of therefrigerant guiding wall portion is separated from the pipe wall to formthe opening.
 12. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein at least amiddle portion of the refrigerant guiding wall portion in a directionperpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe isinclined with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe, at least a portion of the refrigerant guiding wall portion isinclined with respect to the axial direction of the refrigerant guidingpipe, or the refrigerant guiding wall portion is inclined with respectto the axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe.
 13. The heatexchanger of claim 10, wherein at least the middle portion of therefrigerant guiding wall portion in the direction perpendicular to theaxial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe has a section along theaxial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section has ashape of a substantially straight line, or is substantially straight; orthe refrigerant guiding wall portion has a section along the axialdirection of the refrigerant guiding pipe, and the section has a shapeof a substantially straight line, or is substantially straight.
 14. Theheat exchanger of claim 10, wherein at least the middle portion of therefrigerant guiding wall portion in the direction perpendicular to theaxial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe is positioned at anangle of more than zero degree and less than 90 degrees with respect tothe axial direction of the refrigerant guiding pipe, or the refrigerantguiding wall portion is positioned at an angle of more than zero degreeand less than 90 degrees with respect to the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe.
 15. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein atleast the middle portion of the refrigerant guiding wall portion in thedirection perpendicular to the axial direction of the refrigerantguiding pipe has a section along the axial direction of the refrigerantguiding pipe, and the section comprises at least one of at least onesubstantially straight line-shaped segment and at least onesubstantially curve-shaped segment, or a section of the refrigerantguiding wall portion along the axial direction of the refrigerantguiding pipe comprises at least one of at least one substantiallystraight line-shaped segment and at least one substantially curve-shapedsegment.
 16. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein at least an end ofthe refrigerant guiding wall portion in the axial direction of therefrigerant guiding pipe is separated from the pipe wall, therebyforming the opening.
 17. The heat exchanger of claim 10, furthercomprising: a first end of the refrigerant guiding pipe to be connectedwith a refrigerant piping, and a second end of the refrigerant guidingpipe opposite to the first end, wherein the second end of therefrigerant guiding pipe is open in use.